WILD Foundation

The WILD Foundation ROCKS and they have wonderful staff.

WILD is an organization that shows its deep love for wilderness and its animals that call it home. What makes this organization so special is its diversity in so many projects from environmental awareness and cultural programs, to improving and introducing new environmental policies, protecting endangered wildlife and perhaps most importantly, WILD is about community and connection. They understand the importance of the individual and how they can make a huge difference.

I have served on a number of non-profit boards and am not aware of any that have made such an impact with a small budget and minimal staff, including convening almost a dozen World Wilderness Congresses, which have been instrumental in focusing global attention on the critical importance of protecting wild areas and the ambitious Nature Needs Half campaign. Currently serving as the organization's Treasurer, I can assure donors that their contributions are prudently managed and spent very efficiently.

My husband, Robert Baron and I have been deeply involved with WILD since the summer of 1985 when the 4th World Wilderness Congress was held in Colorado. Bob served as Chair for 20 years and a also founded the International League of Conservation Writers. I have served as Chair and am currently the Vice-chair. We have attended the World Wilderness Congresses from IV to XI around the world, and published their proceedings, books, and journals. It is the caring and brilliance of the WILD staff and founders that have led to continued international wilderness conservation. We will support WILD with our time and funds so long as we both live. Bob Baron, Chairman Emeritus, Charlotte Baron, Vice-Chair.

Over twenty years ago, a fellow tribal citizen was at a national meeting with a number of NGO's and U.S. federal agency representatives talking about conservation priorities in the United States. As perhaps the single indigenous person there, he spoke up and said "Where are all of the Native representatives? They should be part of this discussion." Present at this conversation was Vance Martin, president of the WILD Foundation. This question and statement further inspired WILD's collaboration and support of indigenous land managers. In the following three World Wilderness Congresses, WILD supported the convening of indigenous land managers from around the world. Proceedings from two of the gatherings were published and the impacts of that opportunity are too numerous to mention and continue to reverberate today. As a citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, I am honored to collaborate with WILD.

The WILD Foundation plays a unique role in facilitating dialogue about the critical importance of wild lands and wild places around the world. The World Wilderness Congress' have been instrumental to harnessing focus on wilderness. The approach to undertaking this effort is, above and beyond all else - pragmatic. That is a hallmark of the organization: they are eminently pragmatic, efficient.

I had a professional relationship with the WILD Foundation while I was working, and when I retired, was immediately flattered and thrilled to be asked to join the Board of Directors. WILD plays such a unique and effective role in caring for wild places, wildlife, wild nature, and people. It has a global impact that far exceeds the size of the staff. WILD’s collaborative approach to resolving issues, it’s focus on people and nature, and it’s effectiveness makes me incredibly proud to be a part of this WILD family.

I am so thankful for the WILD Foundation and their global portfolio of conservation programs. This organization is consistent in their vision, mission, and impact - and we are grateful to support them with their critically important efforts.

WILD is one of the few wildlife conservation organizations that walks the talk when it comes to putting indigenous peoples and local communities at the forefront of its conservation efforts. The Mali Elephant Project is a perfect example of their unique way of working. The staff go above and beyond to make sure real results are seen on the ground.

For years now I have watched WILD pioneer innovative ways to protect our planet's wilderness and people. Their approach is unique, inclusive and incredibly impactful. To WILD--and rightfully so--the ant is as magnificent as the elephant; the wild flower as wondrous as the mountain. I am honored to serve on their Board and proud to be a member of such an extraordinary and committed team.

I have been a supporter of the WILD Foundation since 2005. In all these years I have had nothing but amazing experiences, trust and great confidence in their approach, their management and their outcomes. It is with lots of gratitude that I find myself sharing in WILD's powerful wins for conservation.

I am always excited to support WILD and I can honestly atest to the fact that it is one of the greatest non profits.

Sincerely,

Cristina Mittermeier
Founder and President of SeaLegacy

WILD is a one-of-a-kind organization supporting solutions at the intersection of climate change, and wilderness protection and restoration. It is an honor to be associated with the WILD team, who dedicate their energy and time everyday to protecting all living beings and wild places around the world.

Wild Foundation was founded almost 50 years ago and has been a model of how a small organization can consistently affect mighty change and impact. Their leadership team is incredibly well connected globally and deeply passionate about creating a world that protects our wilderness. They have organized the 10 World Wilderness Congresses, are brave enough to tackle advocacy and policy, and are highly strategic in the important projects they support across our planet. They represent all that is stellar in the NGO world.

The WILD Foundation is one of the most effective and dedicated non-profits that I have ever worked with. The celebration of WILD's signature event, WILD9 (the 9th World Wilderness Congress, the longest-running public environmental forum) in Yucatan, Mexico, in October 2009 marked a before and after in Mexico's conservation agenda and sparked a new tri-national agreement between Canada, USA and Mexico to work on a public policy agenda with wilderness at the center.

For many years now, I've watched Wild.org produce global events that pull together NGO's from all over the world to collaborate on policies and science which support wild ecosystems and rewilding initiatives in regions that have been harmed by human activities. They are a small but mighty and very effective organization run by a brilliant and dedicated visionary, Vance Martin. Every dollar they receive is put to multiple uses and stretched as far as possible. I personally support them and so does my company so you can see I believe in their work!

WILD has orchestrated so many positive initiatives and continues to bring aligned organizations together to amplify our voice in support of nature. "Nature deserves half" and global rewilding efforts are critical education pieces for our generation and those to follow.

Their innovative strategy for launching new initiatives in global wilderness conservation is unmatched. Checkout any of their 10 World Wilderness Congresses to find the breadth and depth of new thinking and creative changemaking in conservation.

The WILD Foundation is a true hub of the global wilderness movement. More I know about them more I want to help. After helping as a volunteer I am now a part-time staff and really happy to put my expertise at work with people not only in Boulder, Colorado, but around the world. From South Africa, to India passing by England to Brazil, the WILD family is inspiring. Their approach on human-nature connection not just that nature needs but that we need nature to live is refreshing.